Ugh - boom goes the rear drum

billzilla · Post by **billzilla** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:08 pm

I was out for a quick jaunt today and while trying to get up to see a nice 65 Cobra that was putting along, BANG went my rear end and I thought I had a blowout. Shuddering and loss of braking. I pulled off in the center island (I was naturally in the FAST lane) and saw smoke coming from the passenger drum assembly or thereabouts.

Had to get the car off the median, so I got it to the exit and limped along at about 10mph (anything more would produce the heavy shuddering) to a Toscalito automotive place that was surprisingly open on a Sunday.

I can see the dollar signs racking up - if they aren't stymied by whatever parts that fell off the car (I could hear them coming off as I was getting off the freeway). I presume drum clips and/or other bits.

I can only wait not while they check it out. I have no AAA or anything so other than pay a VERY costly tow to my place, this is the best alternative.

DeLorean00 · Post by **DeLorean00** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 7:56 pm

That sucks!! Its the drum ok or do you know? If they want to much money just find out what is wrong and buy the parts go over there and put it back together. If it was me I would just pay what they ask if its within reason to save the hassle.

billzilla · Post by **billzilla** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:32 pm

The verdict is, all four brakes are totally shot. Cracks, bad cylinders, oversized shoes (?) etc. Turns out the one that went BANG was the cylinders giving out and metal going to metal (and as I thought, some clips and stuff popping out).

Anyway, the parts aren't cheap. Anyone know a place to get drum brakes for less than $200 each?

Smellslike1974 · Post by **Smellslike1974** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:40 pm

Wait,all four were drums?

If i were you,i would just save my money for a disc brake conversion,that way something like this doesn't happen again.

landon1 · Post by **landon1** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:44 pm

search for interchangeable ones from a junk yard...i'm sure that other cars would use the same setup

DeLorean00 · Post by **DeLorean00** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:55 pm

Shop will always tell you that all your brakes are shot. Check them out yourself. Also I would just pay what it will take to get the car driving and take it home and figure out what you want to do.

landon1 · Post by **landon1** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:04 pm

true, on my old dodge pickup they told me my drums were no good...i just had em turned somewhere else like i wanted to and they were fine...gotta make that money no matter what...american way, right lol (JK completely not dissing on people

) dangit, now look at me, i'm turning into a politically correct person (erg) lol jk

moparmodeler · Post by **moparmodeler** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:12 pm

be carefull that they are not jerking your chain!

billzilla · Post by **billzilla** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:46 pm

I had already thought about just doing the one drum... I'm going to tell the guy tomorrow. I just can't afford a full new brake system on the car, anyway! I'm between jobs.

Thanks for the advice...

Smellslike1974 · Post by **Smellslike1974** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:00 pm

Make sure they do it right too!

I just got done posting in another forum about a guy whos brakes went out on his 66 Belvedere 11 and he ran straight into a pole,he just got done restoring it too.

So make sure they do a legit job.

billzilla · Post by **billzilla** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:23 pm

Brake place tried to hose me for over a grand. They cited one leaking front cylinder (it's a little wet, sure, but still seems to work) and scoring on the inside of the drums and hairline fractures running the circumference of the front pads. That's why they refused to do just the rears.

The rear driver side seems OK, but the rear passenger blew up, threw a mounting or other bolt into the works, scored up the inside of the drum and naturally the shoes are compromised. The cylinder spring went, I think. They were somewhat vague on likely cause.

The worse news is, I think the blowing of the one drum blew my u-joint at the same time. The car shudders violently over 18mph and the tranny seems to not want to shift very well under that load. There's clunking and rattling when 1-2 shifting. I didn't drive fast enough to see if it did anything at the 2-3. They mentioned 'there may be some u joint problems' as I was picking the car up to limp it to my brother's place.

Towed car to my friends at a Jag place in a nearby town for them to give me a better idea of needed work. I may have them redo the one rear drum and u-joint with parts I order online - then I'll do the rest of the brakes here. They usually give me buddy prices for labor, so it shouldn't be too bad. Provided there's no other damage to the differential or tranny...

Then my brother closed the door of the van that was shuttling us home on my fingers! A nice wrap up for the day. At least the ice feels good.

DeLorean00 · Post by **DeLorean00** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:06 pm

wow, well good luck fixing the problems. Keep us updated.

billzilla · Post by **billzilla** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 1:46 am

My friends say the front brakes were fine (big surprise - the other place was trying to push me into unnecessary brake work, no wonder they 'refused' to do only the rears)... But the rear drums are both too worn to turn and might as well put in new cylinders (one leaks pretty bad) and springs (so we don't have another spring failure and drum lockup).

The drum lock did basically destroy the rear U joint, so that (and the forward one) are both getting replaced. Two hours labor, parts at cost, $450 for everything including brake cylinders, springs, drums and joints. It would've cost me another $90 to tow the car back to my place, plus I'd have had to pay shipping on all those parts AND wait another week to get them, so I figure this was the best way.

Trust me, I'm getting my education this coming weekend when my brother and I tackle the front end rebuild. The Just Suspension kit and tools came today! I'm a little nervous about it... But at least the car will be on the road again as of tomorrow!

rr6pak · Post by **rr6pak** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:52 am

Nice to here you can get the brakes fixed cheaper....take your time on the front rebuild...good luck

DeLorean00 · Post by **DeLorean00** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:37 pm

$450 sounds like a very fair price for what they are doing. I never trust shops telling me I need brakes, its one way they always can make a quick buck. To be honest all brakes on these cars probably need work if there not brand new already. There are always dumb little things wrong with them, like a drum that when measured it turns out to me a tiny bit to thin to be used, although in all reality you could drive on it forever and probably never have a problem. But the shop will refuse to put brakes on unless you change it.